Teen to be recognized Friday

Emerald Isle officials are recognizing a 17-year-old for heroic actions that saved a toddler from a near drowning.

Daily News staff

Emerald Isle officials are recognizing a 17-year-old for heroic actions that saved a toddler from a near drowning.

A ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Town Administration building to recognize Katie Nickels of Wake Forest, who is vacationing in Emerald Isle. She is credited with performing CPR Tuesday night on 3-year-old Lilly Russel, who had fallen into a swimming pool.

According to town information, Emily Russel was putting her camera away after taking a photo of her and her daughter at the edge of the pool. When she turned around, Lilly was face down in the water.

Nickels, who was first certified in CPR at age 15 as a babysitter, performed two rounds of CPR until Lilly began breathing on her own.

Lilly was in stable condition at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville Wednesday and expected to recover.